This part of my blog is all about the things I collect or the things I make myself. I love so many things, I paint and draw and want to learn oils and pastels. I knit and crochet but want to learn tatting. I embroider and can turn my hand to most things given a chance. So much still to learn and do. I live in hope of some day reading all my books, learning all I want to learn and now I am learning to blog. You will often find my original poems, poor as they are I offer them here. I also appreciate other people art and will feature things I find that I have enjoyed. That includes pictures of fairies and fantasy or maybe just anything beautiful.

I try to use my own photo's as much as possible, sometimes I borrow from the web. If I inadvertently use your picture without giving credit, please do let me know and I will either credit or remove it, I hope you will do the same with mine.

If you wish to leave comments on my blog you can do that by joining google if you do not have a blog yourself, please comment if you can I appreciate that.

Friday, November 11, 2011

I went out yesterday and stopped at a Thrift Shop. They had put out Christmas stuff and that was just what I was looking for. I spent 20 dollars and 65 cents and got some really cool things.
I chose this bear because she has such pretty buttons on her coat. Diamante and she has one on her muff as well. They alone are worth the six dollars.

She has a pretty burgundy coat and dress and will go well in my Christmas collection

Among the other things I found were snowmen. I collect snowmen to decorate with and these two were the right price.

Then I walked around the rest of the store and honestly I could have bought a bunch more stuff but I really do not need any of it. Still I could not resist this cut glass candy dish.

These two candle holders I just had to get, but I gave them to my daughter as I have no place to put them but at 2 dollars I just had to do it.

Last but not least I grabbed this Christmas mug. I change out my every day mugs after Thanks giving and put out Christmas ones. They also come in handy for a quick gift and the used ones are nearly always in perfect condition. Put some chocolate drink packets and some candy canes or spoons dipped in chocolate and give as a secret santa gift or to a child on your list with their gift.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Antique fish floats are among some of the things I collect. I love glass and especially these pretty glass balls. They are sturdy and unique in their shape. What it is that attracts me I can't explain but they have character they have survived the ocean and drifted back to shore to be collected and sold. Some have their strings still on them, but I prefer them without. I have found several colours but the green are probably the prettiest, they are the colour of the ocean. I can not recall where I found the picture above or I would give credit to the owner. I like the idea of keeping them out for Christmas decorations with candles. How pretty they are.

Here is a mixture of fish floats and other pretty glass balls. I used to have them all over the place but gathered them up last Christmas and just kept them that way.

These are mainly fish floats and the small ones are sitting in a piece of glass that Danielle brought back from Venice

My biggest fish float on top of a cupboard.

I love this one it has the bubbles in the glass and is thick glass worn by the sea.

Yesterday, Sunday Laura and I went to the Festival of Cakes at the Park Place in Traverse City. Cousin Laura (to avoid confusion) was one of the organizers. They did a terrific job. So Laura and I went to support her efforts and as I have an interest in cake decorating I thought it might be interesting and it was. I took some pictures for inspiration. I will share a few of those here.
We did not stay to see the winners but in my book they were all winners and I don't envy the judges. My personal favourite I will show in detail as the several layers of the cake were extraordinary.
Each layer (cushion) was unique in its own way and every detail was just about perfect. The top cushion had a little candelabra sort of thing with beads hanging from it.

The next layer had flowers and the lavender frosting was decorated in gold.

The next layer was tight rosebuds in burgundy. Sort of difficult to capture in its detail.

The bottom cushion, ( because thats what it was, a pile of cushions)was yellow with flowers and intricate details.

The whole was on a stand and that on top of a beautiful burgundy cloth. The whole presentation was spectacular.
More details below

Here are a few others, the categories were several ranging from professional to children and so I will just show a selection and you can guess whats what.

Here are a few details from some of the cakes shown above.

They had got 4 of our local "celebrities" to decorate their cakes there on the spot. Given a period of time to do it, they were then judged and the cakes auctioned off after. It was fun watching them try so hard to decorate with no past experience. They were real troopers.